Preselector device for change speed gears



Feb. 13, IQQQV w. FoURNAux 2,190,062 www PRESELECTOR DEVICE FOR CHANGE SPEED GEARS Filed Ju1y'14, 1937 4 sheets-sin?? 1 Feb. 13, 1940.

w. FOURNAUX PRESELECTOR DEVICE FOR GHANGESPEED GEARS Filed July' 14, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb.. 13, 1940. w. FouRNAUx K 2,190,062

PRESELECTOR EVICE yFOR CHANGE SPEED GEARS Filed July 14, 1957 4 sheen-sheet s 172 Ve/z Zaf Feb. 13, 1940. w. FouRNAux 2,190,062

PRESELECTOR DEVICE FOR CHANGE SPEED GEARS Filed'July 14, 1957 4 Sheecs-Sheezl 4 ZLy. 6.

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Patented Feb. 13, 1940 PATENT oFFIcE PRESELECTOR DEVICE FOR CHANGE SPEED GEARS Waltlire Fournaux, `UWaterleo, Belgium Application July 14.,` 1937, seriai No. 153,59

lin Belgium 3 Claims.

The present invention has for its object a rnechanical device which, by means of preselection and rnerelyby the operation of the driver without employing any additional source of energy such as electricity or the vacuum created by the engine, ensures the functioning of sliding gears for motor cars and motor cycles. The choice of the speed or the preselection is obtained manually, change of the selected speed taking place automatically when de-clutching isy carried out by the driver at the desired moment. i

The advantages of the device are the simplicity with which it can be operated by elimination of the usual ball lever, the synchronisation of de-clutching and of changing speed, the rapidity of execution, the elimination of all drawbacks coming from electric, pneumatic or hy-` draulic systems, the ability of application of the device to motor cycles which usually have a singie cylinder which does not permit of' the utilisation of a system other than a mechanical one,

and the application of the device to gear boxes whatever may be the number of speeds without involving the introduction of modifications other than a number of corresponding sliding forks.

The mechanical preselector according to this invention is of the type in which the mechanical elements of the device are mounted in a casing l fixed on the upper part of the gear box and being in the form of forks sliding on guides supported in the casing, the lower ends of these sliding forks acting on the pinion of the gear box.

This invention is characterised by the provision of stops at the ends of the upper parts of the sliding forks, cam wheels mounted on guides arranged transversely above the sliding forks so as to turn in opposite direction to displace the forks forward `or backward and adapted to be slid axially by a sliding fork, drums with cams also mounted above these sliding forks and parallel to the shafts of the said cam wheels so as to return Ithe forks to neutral, gear wheels connected respectively to the shafts of the cam wheels and of the drums, pinions and intermediate elements mounted partly within the said casing and partly externally of `itand connected to the clutch pedal or other lever the movements of which effect the change of gear by displacement in unison of the said cam wheels and cam drums, a sliding yoke mounted longitudinally above the axles of the saidcam wheels and acting on the latter by a pull exerted by a suitable manual control in order to effect preselection` of the desired gear ratio. f

' One form of construction of the device as appreselector device.

Fig. 2 is an external view, in vertical section and' a reverse is shown by way of example on the Fig. 1 is an external View taken on line I-I of the taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 4, showing the` geared control shafts. 1

Fig, 3 is an internal vertical section showing the sliding forks andtheir respective cam actuating elements.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line Il-i of Fig. 3 showing the control device for changes of speed, the sliding forks and the ele ments for changing into reverse, into second and into fourth speeds and `the preselector device.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing one of the long cams for reurning the' parts intoneutral from reverse, sec- 0nd and fourth speeds. 1

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on line 6 6 of f Fig.` 3 with the sliding forks and their elements for changing into rst, third and fth speeds,A

as well as the preselector device.

The mechanical preselector device for changing speeds is formed by a casing I situated at the upper part of the gear box which encloses the mechanical elements. The latter comprise three sliding forks 3, 4 connected on the one hand on the pinions, which respectively effect reverse and first speed, second and third and fourth and ifth speeds, and which forks slide on the other hand on rods 5 held at their ends in the casing.v These sliding forks have each at their upper part two stops S and 'I for the sliding fork 2, stops 8 and 9 for the sliding fork 3, and stops I0 and I I forl the sliding fork 4, the stops located on the same sliding fork being offset relatively to one another (Figs. 4 7). Two cam wheels I5 and I6 `are slidably mounted on two hollow axles I2 and i3 arranged transversely above the sliding forks, the ends of the axles being journalled in .rings it secured to the casing. The cam wheels are each provided with three cams Il having the same breadth as a stop and swing to the rotation of the axles and wheels coming into contact with and forcing one of the stops 6, 8 and I0 for the wheels I6 and the stops 1, 9 and II for the Wheels I5.

On the other hand, drums I8 and I9 are also arranged above the sliding forks and transversely of the latter but parallel to the guides I2 and I3, the ends of these drums being carried in bushings I4' fixed to the casing. These drums are each provided with three cams 20 of similar` shape to the cams I'I and also spaced apart from one another at an angle of 120, but being of a breadth equal to the length of the drums and adapted to be brought by rotation into contact severally with the stops 6, 8 and I0 for the drum I8 and with the stops l, S and II for the drum I9. The rotation of the guides I2 and I3 and of the drums I8 and I9 is effected by four intermeshing gear wheels 36 forming a geared conneetion. These gears all possess the same number of teeth and are mounted respectively on the guides I2 and I3 and the drums I6 and I9. The rguide I3 is afdriving one and imparts to each of the axles and the drums a different direction of rotation, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Rotation of the guide I3 is effected by means of a small pinion 2I mounted on said guide and meshing with a pinion 22 which has double the number of teeth, this latter pinion being mounted on a shaft 23 by means of a key 24. `The shaft 23 is carried in a bushing 2,5 secured to the casing (Fig. 4), and is controlled externally of the latter bya wheel 26 having ratchet teeth (Fig. 1), a pawl 2l and a lever arm 28, the latter being connected to the clutch pedal or other actuating lever by a rod 36 pivoted at 2S. The connection is regulated in such manner that the forward movement of the clutch pedal causes a displacement of the lever 22 at an angle of 60.

A sliding yoke 32 is slidably mounted on a rod 3I secured at its ends to the casing and arranged longitudinally and above the guides I2 and I3,

this sliding yoke 32 serving to displace the cam wheels I5 and I6 simultaneously relatively to the stops of the sliding forks or relatively to the space existing between the sliding forks 2, 3. This position between the forks 2 and 3 is that of placing the gears into neutral (Figs. 4 and 6) on actuation of the clutch pedal. Displacement of the sliding yoke 32 in one direction or the Vother is effected by the pull exerted from a hand lever 40, Fig. 3, upon one or other of the parts of a cable 33 secured to the sliding yoke 32 by a pressure screw 34. The pull on the two parts of the cable which passes into a sheath 35 can be effected by the aid of any suitable element I0 situated within reach of the driver; the `act of vdisplacing the sliding yoke 32 constituting preselection.

rl'he functioning of the device shown in neutral position in Figs. 1 7, is as follows:

In order to select the first speed, the driver moves the cam wheels I5 and I6 through the medium of the cable 33 and the sliding yoke 32, rinto plane of the stop I of the sliding fork 2. y'The pressure then exerted on the clutch pedal 'are already in neutral position and can thus freely move through 120. During this period, the cams I'I of the wheel I5 are moved freely through 60 and then through a second 60 forcing the stop I of the sliding fork 2 into the first speed position. During this period the cams I'I of the wheel I6 have moved through an angle of 120, not encountering any stop in their travel.

To pass from first to second speed, the cam wheels I5 and I6 are brought into the plane of the stops 8 of the sliding forks 3 of the second speed. During the rotary movement of the drum I9 one of its cams 20 come into engagement with the stop I ofthe sliding fork 2 then in the position of the rst speed and moves it through au angle of 60 into neutral position. At the same time the wheel I6 has also moved through an angle of 60 arid one of its cams I'I is in contact with the stop 8 of the sliding fork 3 which it thereafter moves through an angle of 60 into the position of second speed. During this time kthe cam 20 of the drum I9 continues its rotary movement freely and the cam I1 of the wheel I5 as well as the cams 20 of the drums I8 move through Van angle'of 120 owing to the fact that there is no abutmentto be encountered in their passage. The travel of the forks in either direction, that is to say towards the position of `sliding fork of the selected speed. It is to be understood that the wheel I5 acts positively for the first, third and fifth speeds, and the wheel I6 in the opposite direction for reverse and for the second, and fourth speeds. The drum I9 serves the purpose of returning the sliding forks of the first, third and fifth speeds to the neutral position, the drum I8 acting similarly but in opposite direction for the second and fourth speeds and reverse. The arrangement of these elements always ensures prior to the engagement of the selected speed, the return to neutral position of the speed previously engaged.

The bringing of the device to neutral position is effected by placing the cam wheels I5 and I6 lbetween the sliding forks 2 and 3 where the passage of the cams Il' is unobstructed owing to the absence of any abutment.

The functioning of the movement from a lower to a higher gear is similar Jfo that from a higher to a lower gear, and permits of selection of any speed, whether the vehicle is in motion or is stationary. Each fork in its displaced or gear position rests against a neutralising cam 20 which is therefore ready, on displacement of the clutch pedal, to throw that fork inwards to neutral position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a preselective control for sliding-gear transmissions, a casing over a transmission to be controlled, longitudinal rods in said casing, gearengaging forks slidable on said rods, primary rotary cams slidable transversely above the forks and adapted to displace the same over the rods, gear means for rotating said cams and thereby shifting the forks and corresponding gears, secondary cams actuated simultaneously with the `:first for retracting previously shifted forks, means for selectively and remotely sliding the primary cams, and manuallyactuated means for moving the cam-actuating gearV means, and a ratchet mechanism for unidirectionally actuating the manually actuated means.

2. In a preselective control for sliding gear transmissions, a casing associated With a transmission to be controlled, longitudinal rods in said casing, gear shifting forks slidable on the rods, toothed cams movable transversely above the forks and adapted to push said forks a given distance in one direction, a yoke engaging the cams and movable therewith over selected forks, a second set of cams for returning the `moved forks to their original position, interconnected gears for simultaneously revolving all cams, means for manually actuating said gears, remote control means for shifting the yoke to selective gearshiftng positions, and ratchet means on the gear actuating means for actuating said gears in one direction only. I y

clutch, a casing associated with the transmission, rods mounted longitudinally in said casing over the transmission gears, shifting forks slidable on said rods and engaging the transmission gears for shifting the latter, rotary cams having teeth engageable with the forks for moving said forks in a direction away from the transverse axis of the casing, stops on the upper ends of the forks for engagement with the cam teeth, a second set of. toothed cams acting on the outer edge of the stops for returning the forks to their original central position, a yoke engaging the rst cams and adapted to 'slide the same over the forks, a gear train interconnecting the cams for simul- `taneously rotating same in reverse directions with respect to each other, a ratchet mechanism for unidirectionally rotating one gear of the train, means connecting said mechanism to the vehicle clutch, and remote control means for selectively positioning transversely of the casing the rst cams moving yoke.

WALTHRE FOURNAUX. 

